The Last Mile: Evaluating a Coding Program in Prisons

Despite the breadth of available programming and the theoretical foundation for the promise of vocational training, prior literature provides scant evidence about the effect of vocational training in prisons (Doleac 2023).  One potential explanation is that the vocational programs on offer in U.S. prisons are not developing the kinds of labor market skills that will lead to jobs with attractive wages and the possibility of career advancement. To address this, researchers from the University of Maryland and University of Pennsylvania are evaluating The Last Mile (TLM)—a program that provides vocational training in prison in web development and audio/video production along with reentry services upon release. While individual outcomes vary, TLM graduates work at leading tech firms like Asana, Slack, and Meta. Using a randomized evaluation, with a target sample of 1200 individuals assigned across program and comparison groups, this research will study both the effect of being offered TLM and of participating in TLM on in-prison misconduct, post-release employment, and recidivism. We believe this research will provide a rare, rigorous test of the offer of credibly lucrative labor market skills, and will provide evidence not only for policymakers to facilitate reentry but on the credibility of a broader set of theories of desistance from crime.